Since first encountering bpNichol’s work in the early ’90’s I have wanted to make this film. His combination of generosity, mystery, humour, precision, and charisma was spellbinding. His work was nothing like the poetry I had been taught or had ever encountered.
In 1999, I began work on what was to become The Complete Works. It started as a series of collage panels collecting a number of Nichol’s works around loose themes. Combining these works with evocative images allowed me to develop initial ideas around the texts. These collages helped organize my thoughts and efforts over the entire process of making the film.
The Complete Works 